**1.3. Local geographical distribution**

Uruguayan South American fur seal and sea lion colonies are located on three main islands in the Atlantic Ocean: 1) Isla de Lobos and Lobos Islet, 9,260 m off Punta del Este (Department of Maldonado); 2) Torres Group Islands (Rasa Island, Encantada Island and Islet) close to Polonio's Cape (Department of Rocha) and 3) Marco Island close to Valizas (Department of Rocha). There are two more small islets close to La Coronilla (Department of Rocha), where small groups of sea lions aggregate in reproductive areas (Fig. 4). Sometimes, a few South American fur seals also appear on these islands (Ponce de León, 2000; Ponce de León & Pin, 2006; Smith, 1934; Vaz Ferreira, 1950, 1952, 1956; Vaz Ferreira & Ponce de León, 1984, 1987).

**Figure 4.** Location of Uruguayan South American fur seal and sea lion calving, breeding and mating islands close to the shorelines of the Departments of Maldonado and Rocha : Isla de Lobos (35º 01' 38" S – 54º 52' 55" W) and Lobos Islet; Rasa Island (34º 24' 12" S – 53º 46' 10" W), Encantada Island (34º 24' 26" S – 53º 45' 56" W), Torres Islet (34º 24' 09" S – 53º 44' 59" W); Marco Island (34º 20' 59" S – 53º 44' 26" W); 3) Verde Island and Coronilla's Islet (33º 56' 21" S – 53º 29' 15" W). Isobath data layer obtained from FREPLATA-Proyecto de Protección Ambiental del Río de la Plata y su Frente Marítimo (www.freplata.org).
